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First Impressions

2024 Nukeproof Giga 290 RS Carbon

Photos Tim Coleman
Reading time

I distinctly remember when it was announced that Sam Hill was moving to CRC to ride Nukeproof Bikes in 2012 (CRC is a bike shop based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Nukeproof is their bike brand ). It's crazy to think that was 11 years ago now, but at the time, there were no Nukeproof Bikes here in North America, so it seemed like an odd choice. Since then there have been countless video segments and edits of Sam rearranging the terma firma of trails the world over. As a bit of a Sam Hill fan boi I've been keen to try a Nukeproof ever since. Nukeproof is making an entrance to North America now, so we've been starting to work out some testing.

Here we are checking out Nukeproof's Super Enduro bike, the Giga 290. The Giga also comes in a Giga 297 mixed wheel version, but unfortunately these only go up to a Size Large, which is a bit small for my taste. So I've been sent a size XL Giga 290, in a lusty red, which is obviously the best colour!

giga carbon@2x

The Nukeproof Giga 290. Pretty!

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The Nukeproof Giga is a 170 mm rear travel bike, using a linkage driven single pivot layout. Did I mention I love the colour?

Nukeproof Giga 290 Highlights:

  • Carbon Frame with 170 mm rear travel and 180 mm fork
  • 29" wheels front and rear
  • Geometry: 63.5° Head Angle and 495 mm Reach on the tested Size XL
  • Weight: 32 lbs (Claimed for Medium), 34 lbs (Measured for XL with pedals)
  • Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, XXL
  • Warranty: 5 years on the frame
  • RS Build Price: 6,500 GBP
  • Frame Only Price: 2,600 GBP

Frame Details

Pulling the Giga 290 out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the packaging. I've yet to see a bike this well packaged in a box, with all of the packaging paper or cardboard. There wasn't a nick or flaw on the bike either. Kudos Nukeproof on the packaging!

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Nukeproof's packaging is fantastic, with the bike securely attached to a sheet of cardboard.

The attention to detail doesn't end with the packaging. The red colour on the RS is gorgeous. The colours of the other builds on the website look fantastic too. I like the simple refined styling of the Giga, and the build quality looks top shelf. All the build kits come with paint protector pre-applied to the top tube, down tube, chain stay and seat stay. I personally put paint protector on all my bikes, so this is a huge plus in my eyes. The Giga comes with a nice downtube protector, as well as good chainslap protection on the chain stays. The details continue with a nice elegant rear fender to minimize trail goo clogging up the linkage.

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The rear brake uses a bracket for mounting the caliper, which seems like an odd choice with so many frames using direct mounts now. I do like the flowing yet angular styling of the carbon though.

The only quirk I've noticed with the build of the Giga is that the rear brake line runs to the right side of the head tube, making for a tighter bend radius. I assume this is because Nukeproof is from the UK, where most rear brake levers would be situated on the left side of the bar, resulting in a longer bend radius. It's not a big deal, and I'm sure it'll be fine.

Architecture wise the Giga is a linkage driven single pivot. There is a flip chip on the main pivot that primarily affects the progression of the bike, 25.5% or 29% progression.

Fit and geometry-wise, the angles are similar to most other super enduro bikes on the market. The head angle is 63.5° for all sizes, and all sizes come with a 445 mm chain stay length. The wheel base for each size is on the compact side relative to some manufacturers like Transition, Forbidden and Norco. The XL wheel base on the Giga is 1,290 mm, where a Spire is around 1,322 mm wheel base in a size XL.

2023 nukeproof giga 290 carbon geometry

Complete Nukeproof Giga 290 Geometry

Build Details

I'm going to be testing the RS model, which is Nukeproof's highest spec build. This build leaves little to be desired. Nukeproof has a good chart with all of the build options and corresponding pricing here. For the RS model the fork is a 180 mm travel Zeb Ultimate, paired with a Super Deluxe Ultimate air shock. The drivetrain is a mix of XX and XO Transmission AXS, fancy! Brakes are Code RSC's, of which I'm a fan. The rotors are 200 mm front rear, which is great, but I would prefer to see a 220 mm front rotor on a bike with a long travel fork.

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The RS Build comes with a Bikeyoke Revive post and Nukeproof house saddle.

The Bikeyoke Revive post on the size XL I'm on is a 213 mm drop. I have the post inserted as deep as it'll go, and extended it's in the 'just the right' position. For reference I have a 32" inseam, so for those wanting the XL size, with an inseam shorter than 32" you'll need a shorter drop post as the 213 mm post can't be fully inserted into the frame.

The wheels are Nukeproof-branded, aluminum rim, Horizon V2s, which are an interesting choice on such a high-end build. I'm keen to see how these hold up. These come wrapped in Michelin's Wild Enduro tires front and rear. Conceptually I like Michelin's lighter casing with softer compound front tire and heavier casing with firmer compound rear tire. I haven't had any time on the new Michelin's yet, and keen to see how they feel.

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The included water bottle cage is carbon, and tucks neatly into the recessed pocket, a really nice touch on the Giga.

It's probably the colour, but I can't take my eye off this Giga. I think it looks fantastic, and the build on the as-tested RS model is top notch. Pricing-wise, the Giga isn't cheap, and comes with a lot of house brand components. The RS model is similar in price to an XO AXS build Santa Cruz Nomad or We Are One Arrival 170, and more than an XO AXS Forbidden Dreadnought. Those are all great bikes, so I'll be looking to see how the Giga RS stacks up.

I've already had a number of rides on the Giga, and so far I'm liking this bike a lot. I rode the Giga through the end of the Whistler Bike Park season, and I'll continue on the local trails here over the coming weeks. Conditions will likely get wetter, so the Giga is going to see a wide variety of weather and trails. I'll have a more in depth review of the Nukeproof Giga in the near future.

Nukeproof Giga 290 RS

Timmigrant
Tim Coleman

Age: 41

Height: 183 cm / 6'

Weight: 87 kg / 192 lbs

Ape Index: 1.055 / +10 cm

Inseam: 81 cm / 32"

Preferred Riding: Gravity Mountain Bike

Bar Width: 800 mm

Preferred Reach: 500 - 520 mm (but this is stack and head angle dependent)

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Comments

roil
+6 Sandy James Oates Suns_PSD BarryW Velocipedestrian UMichael Timer

Definitely a stunner in that red. So many brands seem to miss the mark with their color selection.

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Jotegir
+3 Suns_PSD Andy Eunson Tim Coleman dhr999 FullSend

The sizing is a bit funny, isn't it? Compared to the likes of Norco and some others on the market, Nukeproof could "update" the bike by bumping all the sizing letters one to the right. The XL could become the L, which is closer to the L's offered by anything that fits kinda big - or they could just move to the "1 2 3 4 5" sizing chart.  

Either way, when I look at this thing, it screams "large plus" rather than a true XL. Which is exactly where I'd want to be as someone a bit taller than Tim's 6 foot even, but that's more related to discovering I have a "max wheelbase" that I like to ride and it's a number smaller than 1300, rather than a strict geometry chart and sizing chart interpretation.

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Suns_PSD
+3 Jotegir Tim Coleman BarryW

It's lovely to look at. It's also a REALLY good weight considering the size tested, Aluminum wheels, real tires, Transmission, a Zeb & a long dropper.

Would like to hear more about these tires for certain.

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Timer
0

True. The tires are a fair bit lighter than Maxxis DD. The shock and dropper are also quite light. Same „might“ be true for the house brand stuff. 

Transmission is pig heavy, though.

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Timmigrant
0

When I looked at the tire weights for those Michelin's, the front tire is lighter than a Maxxis DD, but the rear tire is about the same weight as a Maxxis DD. I haven't confirmed the weights of the Michelin tires, but based on the website weights they're about equivalent to an EXO+ front and DD rear combo.

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Mnguyen1224
+2 Velocipedestrian ohio

Can we get a review of that seat as well? Looks like a specialized power saddle copy

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Timmigrant
+1 ohio

I'll certainly comment on the seat in my upcoming full review.

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blang11
0

I was going to make the same comment. That is the spitting image of a Specialized saddle.

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Briain
+1 Tim Coleman

Odd, It must be a lineup change for 2024 but I have an  XL 297. Mine runs a coil but I found the higher progression setting much better. Also, I built mine from frame up but I had no issue slamming my 210 oneup dropper. I was actually thinking of replacing it with a bikeyoke when the oneup dies. How much does your dropper poke out? I would have liked the seat tube to be shorter. My advice would be to keep an eye on the paint work as I've ha d a bit of paint chipping happen

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hbelly13
+1 Jotegir

I love the layout, lines and simplicity of the Giga. It's the same basic idea of an Evil and those ride great. I would love to see this design scaled down from the super enduro beast that it is into a 150mm +/- trail ripper with adjustable geometry ala a Stumpy EVO. No, I don't want a Mega nor a Reactor.

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Jotegir
+1 Andrew Major

It's a long story as to why this came about, but I just spent 4 days riding whistler and pemberton over the Thanksgiving weekend riding a deviate claymore at 160mm front /~151mm rear rather than 170/165 it's supposed to be and it was actually a ton of fun. Grabbed a bunch of hard trails I'd never done before on an unfamiliar bike that was set up "wrong". I have yet to try the claymore in full travel but it was great in "all mountain" mode.

It's a lot of cash to throw down to build an "incorrect" bike but the geometry between the giga and a claymore aren't too far off. I bet a smaller giga would work well, too. 

Edit: the new fox generation of fox rear shocks let you change the stroke length with a few screws rather than expensive parts. You don't need to rebuilt to reset the IFP position either. Modern air springs are pretty affordable too so you actually wouldn't have to go that far out of your way to try something like the giga in a lower travel mode.

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craw
+1 Tim Coleman

Of the bikes you mentioned only the Santa Cruz and Nukeproof come in XXL with the Nomad/Mega being a little bit bigger versus the Nukeproofs which have slightly shorter reach, stack and wheelbase, which is cool. Not every size option should always be maxxed out. It's nice to have options.

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davidt93
+1 BarryW

Be interesting to hear the full review and how it compares to the transition spire, similar travel/geo.

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Timmigrant
+1 David Tran

I still spend time on a Transition Spire and a Norco Range, so my full review will really be in the context of how the Giga compares to those two stand outs in the category.

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daithi
0

Will Nukeproof bikes be DTC in Canada? Or sold through a retailer network?

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Timmigrant
0

I'm not sure, but I've asked Nukeproof this question, and will hopefully have an answer in the full review later this year.

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lacykemp
+7 Niels van Kampenhout Pete Roggeman shenzhe Jotegir ohio Andrew Major Tim Coleman

Hiya! Lacy from Nukeproof here. At this time the US operation doesn't ship to Canada, but we're hoping that will change soon. For now, you can order from Wiggle or Chain Reaction and they'll ship to Canada. It's not a perfect system right now and we know (believe, me..we know) we gotta get shipping to Canada sorted out.

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mammal
0

Wow, this didn't age well, with Nukeproof NA now having closed it's doors, and the rest of the operations in serious question.

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bishopsmike
0

I know they can both be great bikes (and I love the look of this Nukeproof), but I would have a hard time paying as much for this as a We Are One Arrival 170, which come with WAO wheels.

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niels@nsmb.com
+1 Jotegir

Is Canadian pricing known yet? GBP price mentioned in article likely includes UK VAT (~20% I think).

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bishopsmike
0

Good point

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Timmigrant
+1 Niels van Kampenhout

Not yet, as Nukeproof currently doesn't sell to Canada. I've asked Nukeproof about their plans to enter Canada and or how Canadians might be able to buy their bikes. I'll report back in the full review later this year. 

As for North American pricing, the Giga 290 RS build being tested here retails for $7,699 USD, the Factory build is $6,999 USD, the Elite build is $5,999 USD and the Comp build is $4,199. Frame only varies from $2,549 to $3,099 USD depending on the shock. Same pricing for the Giga 297.

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BarryW
0 Jotegir dhr999

I've always wanted one of these, albeit in a slightly more plebeian trim, lol. 

Looking forward to the long term review.

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tokeable
0

There used to be a Canadian retailer but it appears to have gone out of business. Overall, I have found the Canadian pricing (when available for a couple years!) to be fair and a significant discount to other premium brands for frame only and full kits. I did not own a Giga since I thought it would be too much travel for me but the Mega 297 and Reactor were great.

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Jotegir
0

Aaaaand 1 week later they're freaking bankrupt! So much for this one. Hopefully there's a buyout and these rides are still maintained and serviced. Nukeproof was a cool brand, shame if no one bought it.

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Briain
0

Yeah hope so. Ive seen people online saying not to buy from CRC/ Wiggle because of this

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Briain
0

So they've applied for voluntary administration. Apparently, Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group was rumoured to be the most likely candidate to buy Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles (CRC) should it be put up for sale. That's not good a quick google of this guy will show you how he operates. 

https://road.cc/content/news/wiggle-reportedly-heading-towards-administration-304591

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